A Change Will Do You Good…

So what’s changing now? We’ve got Dumbo Dare Challenge, we’ve got Dopey, we’ve got Glass Slipper Challenge… all good things am I right? According to the scuttlebutt on the net (and a found link on the Active registration site) the deferral process is up for a make over!

Most folks who run Disney know that transferring of bibs is a no-no. Big no-no. Like banned for life if you get caught rumored no-no. What’s a bib transfer? It’s selling or giving or simply allowing someone else to run in your place using your bib for entry. runDisney does not allow official transfers, but there are rumors of unofficial transfers happening all the time. (Check Craigslist a week before a race, and you’ll see what I mean!)

Participants are offered the option to defer to another race if their original plans must change (such as an injury- but it appears any reason is acceptable).

Unofficially, we can report that changes are going down. Nothing has been released officially by runDisney, so please keep this in mind when making any considerations to your deferral options.

The Active link for deferral of the Disneyland Half weekend shows this interesting tidbit:

Charging for deferrals is not new, but the additional fee for late deferral is new. Oh- and the early deferral fee went up $10 as well! No surprise there, right?

In the past, participants could defer to another race within the calendar year. For example, a 2012 Wine and Dine Half Marathon entry could be deferred to the 2013 Princess Half Marathon. You had up until 30 days before the race to request a deferral.

This is what the old deferral email looked like (from a 2012 Marathon race):

Dear runDisney Guest,

You are receiving this email because you have requested a deferral from the 2012 Walt Disney World? Marathon Weekend. You are eligible to register for another runDisney race up to one year after your deferral request. You will be required to pay registration fees for the event you are deferring to. Once your deferral form is accepted you will be refunded for your previous registration less the $35.00 deferral fee. Please note all paper work must be submitted 45 days prior to the 2012 Walt Disney World? Marathon Weekend.

Please follow the instructions below to begin the deferral process:

1. Register for the runDisney race you want to defer to

2012 Disney?s Princess Half Marathon

2012 Disney?s Princess Half Marathon 2 Person Team

2012 Disneyland? Half Marathon

2012 Disney?s Wine & Dine Half Marathon

2013 Walt Disney World ?Half Marathon

2013 Walt Disney World? Marathon

2013 Goofy?s Race & Half Challenge

Calls to runDisney reported by Facebook members state they are no longer allowing deferrals to just any ol’ race, but only to thesame race for the following year. Princess 2013 could be deferred only to Princess 2014 for example.

Whoa… mind blown yet? Thought you were savvy to all the ins and outs and processes at your favorite running mouse, right? Hang in there, y’all. I feel ya. Shenanigans is trying to keep up just like the rest of you!

These changes, when implemented, will only help enhance the process for those who want to keep running Disney. Maybe runDisney heard the same rumors we heard: people signing up for a race they had no intention of running (for example WDW Half marathon) for the sole purpose of taking advantage of deferral to a race they really wanted to run- (Tinker Bell, for example). The deferral process allowed them early entry to a race that was not even on sale yet!

If this is the official policy (and every indication is there that it will be for 2014) I think runDisney – once again!- is making the right kinds of change.

Patty Holliday

If she isn’t chasing her four kids around Northern Virginia, Patty is chasing four bars on her phone to share her authentic and fun stories on social media and her blog, My No-Guilt Life. She’s also one half of the Marvel Moms, an online community for discussing the Marvel fandom. You can catch up on her runDisney fun at No-Guilt Disney.